helen love Smash Hits (CD, £12.50)

label: alcopop!

A seminal band and bona fide indie pop legends; they have an indie label track history that
reads like a discography of your favourite indie pop punk hits including the likes of Damaged
Goods, Che, Wurlitzer Jukebox, Invicta Hi Fi, Sympathy For The Record Industry, Elefant and
now Alcopop! Helen Love's records are jam-packed with colourful icons and brilliant, endless
nostalgic memories of the history of pop.
The band and their music have previously been cult favourites of John Peel, Steve Lamacq (who
labelled them "Welsh indie terrorists" and made almost all of Helen's singles record of the week
on his Radio One evening session show), Dave Gorman, Mark Radcliffe, Phill Jupitus, Everett
True, Tim Wheeler (Ash) and Joey Ramone himself, who personally invited them to play in New
York and sing with him on one of his solo albums.
Formed in Swansea in 1992, Helen Love are probably the biggest Ramones fans in Wales, if not
the entire United Kingdom, if not the world. Mixing that trademark punk sound with a little B-52's
and a whole lot of indie irony, over the years they've created a sunny and unapologetically
disposable style that bursts into life like a saccharine disco-indie-punk piñata.
"Still as catchy as any band you could name, time has not mellowed her in any way" - Drowned In
Sound.
"A band of fans for fans, it's a celebration of the scene itself" - Louder Than War.
Tracks: First Girl From Wales In New York / We’ve Got A Formula One Team / Thank You
Polystyrene / You Can’t Beat A Boy Who Loves The Ramones / Mario Kart Grand Prix / Spaceboy!
/ Yes We’re In A Band That We Love / Long Live The Modern Lovers / Sheila B. Devotion / No Hit
Radio / Belle Of St. Mark / Stardust And Glitter